Hong Kong govt should set up drug safety center, after blunders

A drug safety review committee in Hong Kong last week unveiled a report, proposing that a dedicated office be set up to plan and direct the implementation of drug-safety measures, according to the Xinhua news agency.

The proposal, which is due to be debated by Hong Kong's Legislative Council Panel on Health Services this week, was among the 75 recommendations the Review Committee on the Regulation of Pharmaceutical Products forwarded to the Hong Kong government to enhance the regulatory regime of drug products from manufacturing to retailing, after a nine-month study.

According to the committee's report, the dedicated office could help boost the government's regulatory role in enhancing drug safety. It could be expanded into Center for Drug Safety in the long term.